Oregonian newspaper Sports Spotlight on Westside Christian High basketball standout Mikaela Easterlin

Name: Mikaela Easterlin

Age: 17

Where she lives: Lake Oswego

Grade/School: Junior at Westside Christian High School  Westside Christian High

Team Name: Varsity Girls Basketball – The Eagles

Coach: Larry Sutherland

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Highlights season: “Recently I was honored with making 1^st Team All-League in the 3A West Valley League.  My high scoring game was on December 15^th against Portland Adventist where I scored 30 points, the most I have ever made in one game. The highlight of this season is after we lost all nine pre-season games we won our first game 36-33 against Dayton. When it ended a teammate and I were so thrilled that she ran and jumped into my arms. Later a teacher at my school told us that doing so brought tears to her eyes.

How she got started: “I started in elementary school either fourth or fifth grade

Coach’s advice: “JUMP MIKAELA!”

Favorite part of sport: “Swishing a free-throw after the opposing fans try their hardest to distract me.”

Other sports: “Soccer and lacrosse.”

Rules to live by: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13

Other Hobbies: “I volunteer every Sunday night at Transitional Youth (http://www.transitionalyouth.org/) in downtown Portland. We give warm food and clothes to the homeless youths and try to help them get back on their feet. In my down time I love going to coffee with my friends or playing a sport on the side.”

On her iPod: “Mean by Taylor Swift.”

Books on her nightstand: “The Bible, The Help, and all of the Harry Potter books, which I am currently re-reading.”

The one thing someone may not know about her: “I love cheering on the boys’ team in the mascot uniform. I have been the Westside Eagle since my freshman year, along with a of couple other unnamed friends.”

What’s next? “Play lacrosse, my favorite sport, for Wilson High School.”

(Originally published in Saturday, March 10, 2012 SW Weekly Oregonian print edition: Oregonian story link online)

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